While the year is coming to a close, it is not too late to provide support to children in India who desperately need our help. Malnutrition is one of the largest causes of death for Indian children. Over 3000 children die of hunger-related diseases in India every day, and malnutrition is the cause of 68.2% of deaths in Indian children under the age of 5. Malnutrition is such a problem in India that 29% of the world’s malnourished children live in India. 

The Problem

Many times, children go hungry because they do not have the money to afford food. Almost 70% of India’s population subsists on less than $2 a day, and 33% live on less than $1.25 a day. Poverty is a massive, heartbreaking problem all throughout India, and many children suffer because of it. The most effective way for a child to escape poverty is through education, but many children are not able to get a proper education. The brain needs food to function properly, and if a child is suffering from malnutrition they will not be able to succeed in school. Additionally, many children drop out of school in order to work so they can afford food. Either way, many children in India are not able to escape the cycle of poverty and malnutrition. 

Our Solution

That is where Akshaya Patra comes in. Through our school lunch program, we provide a midday meal for over 1.8 million children throughout India everyday. The meals that we provide fill their bellies, and we know that when a child’s belly is full, their mind is free to soar. With your help, we can expand the help we provide. Giving Tuesday is just around the corner, and as the largest day for giving in the world, your support can help us reach our goal to feed 5 million children a day by 2025. Taking place on Tuesday December 3, you can support Akshaya Patra on Giving Tuesday by creating a campaign to help support our efforts and share it with your friends and family. With your help, we can fight malnutrition and support the education of millions of children in India.